NEW YORK — Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera suffered a torn Achilles tendon while going after a fly ball during the New York Yankees Old-Timers’ Day game Saturday and needs surgery.
Agent Fern Cuza said the 55-year-old retired closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have the operation within a week.
In his lone at-bat, Rivera singled off former teammate Andy Pettitte and easily ran to first base. During an at-bat by Willie Randolph, Rivera took a step and fell to the ground in shallow center field behind second base.
The Yankees restored the Old-Timers’ Day game for the first time since 2019.
“It was a fun day until we heard about Mariano. Mariano hurt his Achilles,” seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens told WFAN broadcaster Suzyn Waldman. “I don’t know what was going on. We all thought it was a hamstring, but I think it’s a little worse than that. … Unbelievable.”
Rivera suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in May 2012 while shagging fly balls in batting practice in Kansas City, Mo. He returned for his final season in 2013 and finished as baseball’s career saves leader with 652 and posted 42 postseason saves.
In 2019, the 13-time All-Star became the first player unanimously inducted into the Hall of Fame by getting all 425 votes. He helped the Yankees win five World Series titles and seven American League pennants.
Rivera was playing in game for the second time. He hit an inside-the-park home run in 2019.
The event commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 2000 championship club, the last team to win three straight World Series titles. Clemens was a first-time attendee at the event, which had captain Derek Jeter give a short video message when he was introduced following Rivera.
Before the event, Rivera said he intended to speak with struggling reliever Devin Williams.
AP’s Ronald Blum contributed.
Originally Published: August 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM CDT